How to Install Split APKS/XAPK/APKM/ZIP on any Android device

BySarang Updated on
How to install Multiple or Split APK on any Android device including APK, APKM, XAPK, APKS

Google is making big changes in how you install app on your Android device. The search giant has been transitioning towards Split APKs or multiple APKs format for better compatibility with your Android device and making the app light weight. This means, the bundles APKs will only install the components for your Android devices, making compatibility better and the apps run smoother. Split APKs is now coming to Android Auto starting with the latest beta version 14.2. Here, see how to download and install Android Auto 14.2 APKs file.

Starting with Android 11, Google released apps in Split APKs (multiple APKs) format. This means the app is split into several packages including the base and config APK files. This solves the compatibility issue and helps install apps like the Google Camera APK on any Android device featuring different dpi, screen resolution, screen size, architecture, and more.

Here’s what Google has to say to developers:

Since August 2021, all new apps must be published as App Bundles. If you publish your app to Google Play, build and upload an Android App Bundle. When you do so, Google Play automatically generates and serves optimized APKs for each user’s device configuration, so they download only the code and resources they need to run your app. Publishing multiple APKs is useful if you are publishing to a store that doesn’t support the AAB format. In that case, you must build, sign, and manage each APK yourself.

Google further adds:

Although it is better to build a single APK to support all your target devices whenever possible, that might result in a very large APK due to files supporting multiple screen densities or Application Binary Interfaces (ABIs). One way to reduce the size of your APK is to create multiple APKs that contain files for specific screen densities or ABIs.

So from now on, Android Auto will come in bundled APKs format. However, you can easily install it. But there’s an additional app you will need to download ins o

Android has supported Multiple APKs for developers for quite some time. This feature allows the inclusion of several packages to cover a range of platforms, including smartphones, tablets, Android TV, and boxes. It ensures compatibility with various factors such as screen sizes, screen densities, and Application Binary Interfaces (ABIs) by allowing configuration files to be built alongside the main application. Below is an explanation of how to install Multiple APKs, also known as Split APKs, on any Android device.

Disney+ is a prime example of a split APK in action. Rather than being a simple, standalone app, it functions as a streaming service supported by multiple config files. These files guarantee compatibility with a wide range of Android devices—smartphones, smart TVs, boxes, and tablets—even though these devices feature different DPIs, screen resolutions, aspect ratios, and Android versions. The challenge is compounded by custom Android skins from various OEMs, such as Samsung’s One UI 2.1, OnePlus’ Oxygen OS 10, Xiaomi’s MIUI 12, in addition to the stock experience on Google Pixel. Google’s Multiple APKs system (or Split APKs) plays a crucial role in maintaining compatibility and stability across these diverse devices.

While split apps can be installed directly from the Google Play Store, users might still encounter issues such as limited app availability or the notorious “This app is not compatible with your device” error. As a result, many resort to sideloading APK files from third-party websites, which often exploit split APK configurations. Instead of relying on the universal Split APK Installer (SAI), these sites frequently promote their own installer solutions. Fortunately, there is an all-in-one Multiple App Installer available that can handle nearly any split app format—be it APKS, APKM, XAPK, or even a ZIP file containing all necessary packages from sources like APKMirror, APKPure, Utodown, or APKCombo.

This tutorial will guide you through the process of installing Multiple APKs (Split APKs) on any Android device, regardless of the device, location, or country. Although Google refers to this technology as Multiple APKs, it is commonly known as Split APKs because of the widely used Split APK Installer (SAI) tool.

How to Install Multiple APKS / APKM / xAPK / ZIP files onto any Android device

  1. Download and install the App Manager app from Play Store or the APK listed above.
  2. Launch the default file manager or file explorer app on your phone.
  3. Locate the split app on your Android devcie storage that you want to install.
  4. Select it and choose the App Manager to perform the action.
  5. This should start the installation.

That’s it. Enjoy your multiple APKs. While the App Manager interface will liste all the apps, it may not detect all the formats like APKM. So just simply go to your file manager and install it form there.

Troubleshooting: You may need to remove the default app manager on Android devices as default app installer.

How to Install Split APK files?

Method 1: Using Split APKs Installer (SAI)

Split Installer (SAI) is another great APK that can install Multiple APKs. So ideally the Google Play Store provides split APKs – 1 for the base app and 2 more config apps for compatibility with various Android devices like smartphones, tablets, Android TV/Box. Most importantly, SAI is a free and opensource software (FOSS) and is Adfree.

Download Split Installer (SAI)

Install Split APK files

  • Download the split APK files for your apps.
  • Transfer the multiple APKS to phone storage.
  • Download and install the latest version of Split Installer app from above
  • Launch the Split Installer app and grant all the permissions it requires.
  • Tap on Install APKs option in SAI.
  • Select all the three APKS packages from the phone storage you wish to install (It is better to have them in a .zip file extension)
  • Grant permission to install apps from unknown sources.
  • Let the installation complete.
  • Launch the app.

Convert APKM into APK format

AntiSplit M can merge “AntiSplit” split APKs (APKS/XAPK/APKM) to a regular .APK file.

This project is a simple GUI implementation of Merge utilities from REAndroid APKEditor. There are already some apps that can perform this task like Apktool M, AntiSplit G2, NP Manager, but they are all closed source.

In addition, Antisplit G2 (com.tilks.arscmerge), the fastest and lightest of the existing apps, has a large problem; it does not remove the information about splits in the APK from the AndroidManifest.xml. If a non-split APK contains this information it will cause an “App not installed” error on some devices. Fortunately the implementation by REAndroid contains a function to remove this automatically and it carries over to this app.

Method 3: App Manager APK to install Multiple APKS/APKM from APKMirror

The developer (AndroidDeveloperLB) of App Manager just recently updated his/her app in support of installing various multiple APK formats. One app for all! This includes the following formats:

  • Stand alone APK files
  • Split APK files under same folder
  • APKM from APK-Mirror
  • XAPK from APK-Pure. Includes copying of OBB files when the installation is complete. You don’t have to have those on the file system, but it’s highly recommended
  • APKS from SAI app
  • Other ZIP-based files that are split APK files

APK Download:

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Tech Expert & Software Developer

Sarang is an Android enthusiast, software developer, expert in the Android, phones, software, niche and has been a tech blogger for various other technology websites.

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